Battle of Nesbit Moor (1355)

March and Douglas meanwhile had hidden in woods to the south of Duns. Ramsay abandoned the livestock and rode north to lure Grey into the ambush. Grey left the cattle to be collected later, pursued Ramsay, and led his men directly into the trap. Douglas and March's main force then cut off any chance of Grey's retreat by moving between them and the border. As soon as Grey saw the banners of March and Douglas battle was joined. The Englishmen rushed the Scots, but soon the superior Scottish numbers began to tell. The Scots won the day and took many prisoners, including Dacre, Grey, and his newly knighted son Sir Thomas Grey, and losing very few of their own, excepting John Haliburton of Dirleton.

The important English prisoners were taken away into captivity. Most of the common soldiers were bought by one of the French knights, who had them massacred in revenge for the earlier death of his father at English hands. This incident gave rise to a local landmark known as "Slaughter Hill". The garrison at Berwick, on hearing of the fight, marched on Norham, expecting it to be under siege. March, Douglas, and Thomas Stewart, 2nd Earl of Angus, aided by the French knights, counter-attacked and captured Berwick. Unable to take the Castle, March ordered Berwick set ablaze. The Scots retreated following news of a large army advancing under Edward III of England, who then proceeded into Scotland and laid waste to Lothian, killing and burning as he went, in an episode that would be remembered as the Burnt Candlemas.^[1]

• Fordun, John of, Chronica Gentis Scotorum, ed. Skene. Edinburgh 1872. ^{[non-primary source needed]}
• Fraser, Sir William, The Douglas Book IV vols. Edinburgh 1885.
• Maxwell, Sir Herbert. A History of the House of Douglas II. Freemantle. London, 1902